New political party in Assam seeking NRC review

Weeks before the publication of the updated NRC in Assam, a lawyer of the Supreme Court from the state on Monday announced the formation of a new political party seeking re-verification of the multi-crore exercise.

The lawyer, Upamanyu Hazarika, who contested Lok Sabha election for Guwahati seat as an Independent candidate said fighting for legal safeguards to the identity of the state's indigenous people and re-verification of the NRC exercise would be two major motos of the new party.

"There is one very clear message that protection of indigenous identity which was the basis of our election campaign in Guwahati and also propagated all over Assam has found instant acceptance.  There is the need now to carry it to the next level towards the formation of a political platform or a party on the issues of protection of indigenous identity. There is a need to seek a re-verification of the NRC to prevent inclusion of 60 lakh illegal migrants," Hazarika said, here.

The Supreme Court has set July 30 as the deadline for publication of the updated NRC. The exercise is being carried out under the supervision of the apex court with March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date, which was decided in the Assam Accord of 1985. 

More than 40.07 lakh of the total 3.29 crore applicants found their names missing from the draft NRC, released on July 31 last year. The dropouts, however, has been allowed to submit claims seeking inclusion in the final NRC.

He now leads Pravajan Virodhi Manch, an organisation campaigning against illegal migration, mainly from Bangladesh into Assam.

Hazarika said the new party would fight for legislation to reserve land rights, employment, trade and business opportunities for state's indigenous people or the pre-1951 residents or their family members. He is also against the NDA's Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. 

"We will be carrying out extensive consultations in the next two months with the people of Assam, organisations, groups as to the structure and functioning of the new political entity," Hazarika said. 

Assembly elections in Assam will be held in 2021.